Please tell me a bit about yourself—your background in writing for children and in other genres. I started writing children’s books in 2015, after an idea popped into my head. I’m yet to release the first story that I wrote, but Peter came not long after. I wrote songs before I wrote children’s books, only for myself. I have no idea how the ideas popped into my head, I guess the universe was guiding me. Tell me about your most recent work...what inspired the premise? What about your story is topical right now? My next book, Have You Ever Seen a Dogahogahippodile? was inspired by my partner. I came home and he said he had an idea for a book character. From there, the book was written within the hour and I loved it! It’s about a combination of animals to make a dog-like animal who is loveable in his/it’s own way. What do you hope young readers, and perhaps even parents take away from your story? From my new book, I hope they take fun and laughter and the ability to allow yourself to be different and love it. What are your fav scenes (and why)? My favourite illustration is the Dogahogahippodile asleep on a hill. Charlotte Watkins captures the mood and animal brilliantly with beautiful colours too. Where do your ideas for stories generally come from? Sometimes I watch my children do something and it inspires me to write. Sometimes, they just live in my head and appear when they’re ready. For the other children’s writers out there in my audience, could you share a little advice on either writing or marketing children’s picture books? Whatever your idea is, write it down. I have so many unfinished stories that just didn’t work out, but I wouldn’t have found the ones I did without getting them out first. And don't be afraid to publish your work, a rejection from a publisher isn’t a rejection from a reader. Be brave. How has the current pandemic changed or shaped how you write your books? What about how you market them? It didn’t change how I wrote them. It gave me more time to focus on marketing though, as I am a Whitney Houston tribute so the pandemic took my entire livelihood, but freed up my time. Tell me about some of your other books and projects! The next Peter book in the series will be out at the end of the year, and this time he’s learning to swim! I have lots more lined up, and I’m too excited to share them with everyone! What's next for you? I’m working on my first adult novel, although it’s made me a champion procrastinator! I plan to finish it this year and get it published. And of course I have my 2 children’s books coming out as well. And tell us something people might not know about you. I’m a complete introvert, despite my job imitating Whitney! Peter the Picky Polar Bear: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1912765241u |
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